Studio

FEATURE PROJECT: COCHIN HOUSE, NEW DELHI

Located at 3, Jantar Mantar Road, in the Kerala House premises, the old palace of the erstwhile Raja of Cochin; now referred to as Cochin House accommodated the offices of the Resident Commissioner of the Kerala State government. The Bungalow, which is a typical example of early 20th century architecture in New Delhi, falls in the regulated Lutyen’s Bungalow Zone. It also has the distinction of being the residence of renowned Indian writer, late Khushwanth Singh during the 1920’s (named ‘Vykunt’ then) before being sold by his father to the Raja of Cochin. Owing to its poor state of repair and maintenance with regards to its historic value, the building was taken up for conservation and adaptive re-use as a VVIP guest house for the Honorable Governor, Chief Minister and other important political authorities of the State of Kerala. It is worthy of mention here that Cochin House building being in the Lutyen’s Bungalow Zone, is one of the very few buildings which has been taken up for repair and renovation in a sensitive manner.